WORCESTER Warriors have received a huge boost ahead of the Premiership Rugby Cup Final. 

Worcester News understands that both Duhan van der Merwe and Ollie Lawrence will be involved in the matchday squad after recovering from respective injuries.

A calf injury has kept Lawrence away from the action since mid-December and that came after missing a month or so with another calf problem picked up in October.

After just 505 minutes of rugby across seven appearances in total, frustration is the word that springs to mind but the word is that he will be fit for the final in ten days time.

In March, Worcester boss Steve Diamond confirmed the 22-year-old was “about two to three weeks” away from a return, which would suggest the timing is about right for a return to fitness.

Warriors have never won a top-flight trophy, if there’s a time to risk someone, it would be here.

As for van der Merwe, he missed the defeat to Saracens after returning from a broken rib in the semi-final win at Gloucester.

He scored a try and saved one in that game and will be a massive boost for Worcester.

Debate was had ahead of the semi-final win at Kingsholm over rivals Gloucester as to who should play in the competition given it has been one the club have used to blood youth and give others much-needed game time.

But the likes of Gareth Simpson, Fin Smith, Duhan van der Merwe and Sam Lewis started that day and Jamie Shillcock, Francois Venter and Niall Annett all came off the bench.

It proved that the club were taking the tournament seriously and after the game, head coach for the day Jonny Goodridge said Worcester were "not here to make up the numbers".

"We want to win this competition," he said.

"We are not here to just make up the numbers. We are taking this competition seriously and we want to go and win the final."

Diamond echoed those comments after the recent defeat to Saracens at Sixways in the Gallagher Premiership.

"We have ten days off now but then we will come back in and we have a cup final to go for," he added.

"We have told the players to come back in good condition and let's have a real good crack at the cup final and see where we go from there."